Romans 5:12-21
“18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.”
Paul now presents two opposite examples to show us the wonderfulness of God’s grace. He compares Adam and Jesus. (Perhaps it might be of interest that Paul points to Adam and not to Eve in this passage.) Adam did not obey the teaching he had from God in the Garden, Genesis 2:15-17 and his family was driven from the Tree of Life. A separation from God’s presence resulted. It is not dissimilar to refugees fleeing to new countries because of war and loosing connection with their birth family. The result of Adam’s punishment is that we as children of Adam are born physically separated from God. All people die physically separated from God. But because of Jesus, the Messiah, who obeys God, Jesus reverses not only the reality of physical separation from God but also reverses spiritual death because by faith we can live with God for eternity. Adam’s death resulted in physical death. Jesus’ obedience resulted in eternal life and spiritual life.
Paul might be presenting an argument above my pay level. I do understand, though, that decisions we make to obey God or disobey have consequences that affect the history of our families and ultimately our world. “It Was a Wonderful Life” is a story that presents the idea in a picture we can understand. Because George Bailey made decisions that prevented him from going to college and traveling the world, his community grew in a way it could not have had he not been born. Clarence, Angel Second Class, shows George what life would have been like had he not been born. Adam chose for self and we live in the shadow of that story. Christ obeyed and we now have a whole different future open to us.
So let us think today of a decision we made that impacted the course of our lives. Perhaps it was a marriage or a choice of career. Then again it could be a bitterness or guilt we carry for the sins of our youth. Let us thank God for the blessings we have experienced and how he has even taken our rough times and led us to a new future. Thank you, Lord, for being with us on our journey of faith!
On the Way to Wonder 